DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- AT THE FEET OF JESUS

AT THE FEET OF JESUS

Matthew 15:29-30

“Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.”

The crowds came to Jesus as He sat on the mountain, and laid their needs at His feet. Today, Jesus is seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father, but I can still bring my concerns to Him, and lay them down at His feet. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). He is waiting for me to come.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus invites his people to lay their needs at His feet.

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Have a “laying down” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE CRY OF THE NEEDY

THE CRY OF THE NEEDY

Matthew 15:21-23

“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from the region and cried unto Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely oppressed.’ And He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries after us.’ ”

It is hard to comprehend the attitude of the disciples. Here was a hurting woman who cried out for help, but the disciples turned a deaf ear to her pleas and said, “Send her away.” Was it because she was not a part of their “group?” Had they become so callous by all the suffering around them that they did not feel the pain of this woman and her daughter? This convicts me. How often do I turn away from people who are crying out for help, but who are not a part of my “group?” People are hurting and need the Savior, regardless of their economic class, race, or religion. Oh, God, give me an open ear and a tender heart to hear the cries of suffering people.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Suffering people are crying out for help, hoping someone will hear them.

[end]

Have a sensitive day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FILTHY DIRTY

FILTHY DIRTY

Matthew 15:10-11, 20

“When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand; not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man …. These are the things that defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.’ ”

The word “defile” means to make filthy and unclean. Jesus explained this teaching: What comes out of the heart is more important than body cleanliness. It matters not how clean a person is on the outside.  It is not what I eat that makes me dirty or even the grime on my body; it is what I think and do. If a heart is filthy, the entire body is unclean. James wrote that an evil tongue defiles the whole body (James 3:6). I have seen beautiful women who destroy their beauty by swearing. It was what came out of the mouth that defiled them. No matter how good a person looks on the outside, if the heart is wicked, it will eventually come out. The Pharisees were concerned with the externals. God is concerned with the internals – the matters of the heart, because it is from the heart that evil proceeds. The cry of my heart is that of David, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: A filthy heart is more important to God than a dirty body.

[end]

Have a “clean-heart” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HYPOCRITES!

HYPOCRITES!

Matthew 15:7-9

“ ‘Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” ’ ”

Hypocrite! I’ve been called that a time or two, and it stings. Hypocrites say one thing and do another. They are good at telling other people how to live, but their lives don’t match their mouths. They can come to church and look good when they worship, but it is an outward show, and not from the heart. But I need to be careful when I call someone a hypocrite, because I don’t know the heart like Jesus does. We are all sinners and fall short of living like we should. So I need to leave the judging to God who sees the heart.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is the judge of hypocrites because only He can know the heart.

[end]

Have an “unhypocritical” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RATIONALIZATION

RATIONALIZATION

Matthew 15:4-6

“ ‘For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’ – then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’ ”

God’s commandment was clear: honor your father and mother (Exodus 20:12). But some people did not want to keep this commandment, so they created a rationalization for not obeying, even couching it in spiritual terms of giving to God. They substituted their own tradition for God’s instruction. If I don’t want to obey God’s Word, I can always find an excuse to justify my disobedience. But sin is sin, no matter how I try to rationalize it or justify it. For examples, lying is sin, no matter how I try to excuse it. Stealing is sin, regardless of how I try to justify it. When I try to sidestep God’s commandments, I make His Word ineffective in my life. But none of my rationalizing will change God’s Word.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Rationalization and excuses can never justify sin.

[end]

Have an obedient day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRADITION

TRADITION

Matthew 15:1-3

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus saying, ‘Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?’ ”

The Jewish leaders criticized Jesus’ disciples because they did to follow tradition. The washing of hands was not just a hygienic issue. It was a ceremonial rite of cleansing in the Jewish religion. As a tradition, it was not mandatory. It is so easy to fall into the trap of making tradition equal to what God has revealed in His word. Even though the tradition may have value and merit (as washing one’s hands before eating), it is not obligatory simply because the older generation observes it. For example, we traditionally close our eyes during prayer. It is good because it helps us close out the world and focus on God, but it is not a Scriptural mandate. Too often I am like the scribes and Pharisees, or like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof singing “Tradition,” criticizing other people who do not keep my traditions which have no Scriptural foundation. God, help me not to be critical of people who do not do things like I do.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Observance of tradition is not mandatory unless it is commanded in God’s Word.

[end]

Have a free day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- JESUS IS HERE!

JESUS IS HERE!

Matthew 14:34-36

“When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all the surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.”

I can almost hear the news as it spread from person to person throughout the surrounding vicinity – “Jesus is here! Jesus is here!” And on the word of that testimony, people came to be in His presence and touch the hem of His garment. Oh, that every church fellowship would recognize Jesus’ presence and the word would go out, that Jesus is there! Moreover, I desire that people might recognize Jesus’ presence in my life so that they could say, “Jesus is here!”

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: The recognition of Jesus’ presence draws people.

[end]

Have a “Jesus presence” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORSHIP

WORSHIP

Matthew 14:32-33

“And when they [Jesus and Peter] got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly, this is the Son of God.’ ”

The disciples had seen wonderful things – Jesus walking on the water, Peter walking on the water, and the calming of the storm. The result of what they had witnessed caused them to worship Jesus. I know that Jesus is to be worshiped for Who He is – the Son of God. But it is the manifestation of His power and His care that prompts worship. As I look back on my life and think of all the times He has intervened in my personal challenges, I can’t help but worship Him.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is worthy of worship, both for Who He is and for what He does.

[end]

Have a worshiping day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CAUGHT

CAUGHT

Matthew 14:30-31

“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ”

When Peter took his first steps of faith, his attention was on Jesus only. But then he was distracted by the storm around him, and he was overwhelmed and began to sink. Then he cried out to Jesus. It is so easy to be distracted by the circumstances around me and let my focus shift from Jesus to the storm. Jesus may let me start to sink so that I will know my utter need for Him. But when I cry out to Him in my distress, He stretches out His strong arm and catches me. “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2). What a wonderful Savior that hears my cry in my distress.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus reaches out and catches the person who cries out to Him.

[end]

Have a “caught” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE LEAP OF FAITH

THE LEAP OF FAITH

Matthew 14:28-29

“And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to Jesus.”

It takes a lot of faith to follow Jesus’ command. Only one out of 12 disciples – less than ten percent – had the audacity, courage, or faith to step out and follow Jesus’ command, and trust God for the impossible. I praise God for those who are willing to put their lives on the line to get out of the safety of the boat and put jump into the stormy water. But most of us are like the other disciples, afraid to get into water that is over our heads. Sadly, I am one of the eleven who are afraid to take that leap of faith. “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.”

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Faith that will truly trust God to do the impossible is an uncommon commodity.

[end]

Have a “leap of faith” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IN THE STORM ALONE

IN THE STORM ALONE
Matthew 14:22–25, 27

“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side …. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea…. Jesus spoke to them, saying ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’ ”

Jesus sent His disciples into a storm alone. It was in the middle of the night (the fourth watch would be 3 to 6 a.m.), and they were being tossed around by contrary winds over which they had no control. I know what the disciples must have felt. I’ve been there, trying to do what Jesus says, but ending up alone in the darkness of night, buffeted with contrary winds. It is scary stuff. He may allow me to experience the storm for awhile, but He does come, and I hear Him say, “I’m here! Don’t be afraid.” He gets me through the storms.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus comes in the storms of life and speaks peace.

[end]

Have a Jesus day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD IS NOT STINGY

GOD IS NOT STINGY
Matthew 14:20-21

“So they all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

There was one basket extra for each of the twelve disciples. God does things in abundance. He created the stars innumerable. He made 120 to 180 gallons of wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:6). He is abundant in mercy (Numbers 14:18; I Peter 1:3). His grace is exceedingly abundant (I Timothy 1:14), which He abounds toward us (II Corinthians 9:8) lavishly (Ephesians 1:8 NIV). Jesus came to give us life, and that more abundantly (John 10:10). He meets our needs according to His riches (Philippians 4:19) which are inexhaustible. Whatever He does is more than enough. I’m so glad that God is not stingy.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God’s resources are more than enough for any situation.

[end]

Have an abundant day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GOD USES HUMANS

GOD USES HUMANS

Matthew 14:15-18

“When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, ‘This is a deserted place and the hour is already late. Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves some food.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ And they said to him, ‘We have only five loaves and two fish.’ He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ ”

It is an old sermon that is still true: Jesus takes what I have and uses it. He does not need my meager talents and resources to accomplish His will. But He graciously involves me in His ministry.   I may not have much to offer, but He blesses and breaks (vs. 19) whatever I give to Him. I can’t take any credit because it is His miracle that multiplies it to meet the need. It is all to His glory.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God uses whatever we give to Him to minister to people.

[end]

Have a “giving” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- RESTORING THE SOUL

RESTORING MY SOUL

Matthew 14:13-14

“When Jesus heard it [about JB’s execution], He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.”

Ministry can be very exhausting because of the emotional energy expended in giving, and giving, and giving. Jesus was filled with compassion for the needs of people, and He needed times away to restore Himself. When I was a pastor, the most demanding times were funerals because of the emotional drain of ministering to the grieving. The opportunities for doing ministry will always follow the person whose heart cares about people. There will always be things to do. Jesus needed to get away for some down-time to recharge His batteries. He probably used the time to fellowship with His Father. I find it very difficult to take times of letting everything go and just do nothing. Taking time for prayer is difficult because my mind is filled with all the things I could be doing. I hate naps because it is such a waste of time. Even sleeping at night can be a challenge because my brain keeps going. (This Dad’s Ramblings is being written in the middle of the night because I can’t sleep!) I need to learn the secret of letting my projects go and just do nothing to rejuvenate. It is by the quiet waters that God restores the soul (Psalm 23:2-3).

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Restoration comes in the times of getting away from the demands of life.

[end]

Have a “restoration” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HAUNTED

HAUNTED

Matthew 14:1-2

“At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.’ ”

King Herod was a haunted man – tortured by his conscience because of the sin he committed when he had John the Baptist beheaded, and he became paranoid. I can imagine that every night when he went to bed, he saw in his mind’s eye the platter with JB’s head on it (vs. 11). Oh yes, he was sorry (vs. 9), but not sorry enough to repent. So he lived a haunted life, full of regret. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow this world produces death” (II Corinthians 7:10). By God’s grace, a person does not have to live a life of regret for sin, because there is a place of cleansing and forgiveness. I do have regrets for my past mistakes, but my sin is under the blood of Jesus. It is forgiven, and I am not haunted by unforgiven sin. I sing with David, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities...” (Psalm 103:2-3). There is an old hymn that expresses it well: “Oh the joy of sins forgiven; Oh the rest the blood-bought know; Oh the peace akin to heaven, where the healing waters flow.” Herod knew nothing about that kind of peace.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: The Christian is free from the condemnation of past sin because it is forgiven.

[end]

Have a forgiven day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- REJECTION

REJECTION

Matthew 13:57-58

“So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.’ Now He did not do many might works there because of their unbelief.”

The people of Nazareth were offended. One facet of the Greek word skandalizo is to be indignant. When they asked the question, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”, I think the question behind the question was, “Who does this guy think He is? He’s just a home-town kid. He’s not any better than we are!” They missed God’s blessing by their lack of believing that Jesus was God’s messenger because they saw him only as a man like themselves. How often have I missed God’s ministry into my life because I rejected the messenger. Jealousy causes to be offended by that person, and I say to myself, “Who does he think he is? He’s not any better than I am.” Lord Jesus, help me to receive Your word to me without critiquing the messenger.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God’s ministry can be hindered because of rejection of the messenger.

[end]

Have a "receiving" day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- KNOWING JESUS

KNOWING JESUS

Matthew 13:54-56

“When He had come to His own country, He taught them in the synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not this His mother called Mary? And his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?’ ”

The residents of Jesus’ home town, Nazareth, knew Jesus from a purely natural standpoint. Some had grown up and played with Him. They knew His family. They had seen Him as an apprentice in Joseph’s carpenter shop. However, they did not recognize Him as their Messiah. They apparently knew nothing of His miraculous conception, or the announcement at Bethlehem by the angels from heaven that He came to be the Savior. Today, some people know Jesus in a natural way. It is not enough to acknowledge intellectually that Jesus was a historical figure. Jesus is more than a natural man who lived 2,000 years ago. As Paul wrote, “Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we know Him thus no longer” (II Corinthians 5:16). We can know Jesus personally. I’m so glad that I know Him, not just with my brain, but in my heart as the living Savior.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus is more than a historical figure; He is the living Savior.

[end]

Have a “knowing” day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE LEARNING PARADIGM

THE LEARNING PARADIGM

Matthew 13:51-52

“Jesus said to them, ‘Have you understood all these things?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’ ”

A basis educational principle is that new knowledge is based on old knowledge. The teacher takes the student from what he already knows to new information. A person can’t understand calculus unless he has mastered basic math, algebra, and trigonometry. There is a growth process. Jesus taught new spiritual insights based on the disciples’ common knowledge. They knew the Old Testament teachings; now He was teaching them new things about His kingdom. He wanted to know if they “got it.” God wants to teach me new spiritual insights based on my understanding of basic concepts. I don’t want to be like the people the writer to the Hebrews chided when he said, “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). God has so much to teach me if I will only learn the basics.  I don’t want to stay in 1^st grade forever. “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection [maturity]” (Hebrews 6:1). “Oh, the depths of the riches [treasures] both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). “But grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). Paul prayed, “...that God … may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him … that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe...” (Ephesians 1:17-19). I want to know Christ (Philippians 3:10).

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: God desires His disciples to grow in their knowledge of Him and His kingdom.

[end]

Have a growing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE DRAGNET

THE DRAGNET

Matthew 13:47-50

“ ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be a the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

There is an approach to witnessing that believes it is a waste of time to tell the Gospel to those who are not interested in hearing, who do not give evidence that the Holy Spirit opened their hearts and has drawn them to faith.  This approach says, "I won't talk the them about Jesus because they won't believe anyway."  Jesus gives a different model of evangelism. In the Parable of the Sower, the seed was sown indiscriminately on both good and bad soil. In this parable the fishing net was cast into the sea and gathered both the just and the unjust. To use another metaphor, I think the shotgun approach is valid. There is a place and time for the rifle approach, but it is not my responsibility to determine who will believe and who will reject. My job is to cast the net and leave the rest to God.

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Everyone should hear the good news that Jesus died for their sin, not just “seekers.”

[end]

Have a sharing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ONE VALUABLE PEARL

ONE VALUABLE PEARL

Matthew 13:45-46

“ ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’ ”

This parable is like the parable of the treasure in the field (see Dad’s Ramblings, October 3), but it emphasizes the truth that Jesus died for each person individually. The merchant was seeking many pearls, but he paid a great price for one. I truly believe that if I had been the only person who would receive the Lord Jesus as Savior, He would have considered me of such great value that He would have left heaven to come to earth and die a horrible death on the cross – such a great cost -- just for me. He did die for the sin of the world, but He thought I was a pearl worth the price. What great and wonderful love!

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: Jesus gave all that He had, not just for the world, but for each individual person.

[end]

Have a thankful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE TREASURE

THE TREASURE

Matthew 13:44

“ ‘Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.’ ”

This parable can be understood in two ways. Probably the most common is that Jesus is the treasure that, when a person finds, gives up all that he has to acquire that wonderful treasure. The second, and to my mind the most biblically accurate interpretation, is that we are the treasure that Jesus found while covered by the filth of this world. He paid a very great price for us – His very own life – to buy us as His own, bought with the precious blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19). His mission was to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He is the Good Shepherd who went out to find the lost sheep, and he has great joy when it is found (Luke 15:4-7). For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). He rejoices over us with gladness and singing (Zephaniah 3:17). He sees value in me, even though I am a diamond in the rough. An old hymn says, “Oh, the love that sought me! Oh, the blood that bought me! Oh the grace that bought me to the fold, Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.” Oh, what a Wonderful Savior!

TODAY’S PRINCIPLE: The Kingdom of Heaven is populated with treasures redeemed from the world.

[end]

Have a thankful day. Love you. You are a treasure.